Suvojit Bandopadhyay, a 32-year-old theatre artiste from Dankuni, has been awarded this year’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for his contributions to the genre through his directorial excellence.

Instituted in 2006 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, a division of the Union ministry of culture, the award honours performing artistes under 40 years of age across fields such as music, dance, drama, folk and tribal arts and puppetry.

Named after the legendary shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, the award aims to encourage emerging talents. The honour includes a plaque, a citation and a cash prize of ₹25,000.

The award was handed over to Suvojit at a ceremony held at Dr Ambedkar International Theatre in New Delhi on Friday.

Suvojit is the sole recipient of this award in the field of theatre from Bengal this year. Overall, 89 young artistes in various performing arts categories were recognised.

“Theatre is my passion. I never expected such an honour, but it will surely inspire me in my future endeavours,” Suvojit told The Telegraph.

An English literature graduate, Suvojit is known for his innovative approach to scenography, using abstract elements to craft compelling narratives. He leads his own theatre group and has directed over 40 plays, participating in national and international festivals in India and abroad. Suvojit also organises regular workshops for children at his Dankuni-based space.

Two of Suvojit’s recent masterpieces demonstrate his directorial brilliance: an intimate play based on Rabindranath Tagore’s short story Postmaster (produced by Theatre Shine) and Phaans (Noose), adapted from Robert Browning’s monologue My Last Duchess by playwright Anirban Sen and produced by Paramik Barrackpore.

Noted academic and theatre critic Ananda Lal praised Suvojit’s talent.

He said: “Suvojit excels in visualising stories with imaginative and creative presentations, especially in intimate spaces. His vivid aesthetics and textual fidelity make him a standout among contemporary directors in Bengal. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his genius.”

Senior playwright-director Chandan Sen also lauded the recognition and said: “I am delighted to see such a deserving talent being honoured. Suvojit is a highly creative and powerful director who brings new dimensions to plays through his imaginative designs. I believe he will carry forward the legacy of Bengali theatre.”

Playwright Anirban Sen, whose works have frequently been directed by Suvojit, said: "Suvojit’s forte lies in his innovative ideas, their meticulous execution and his ability to elevate scripts to new heights. Among contemporary directors, he is undoubtedly one of the finest.”